Tuscan Profiles: A Beautiful Friendship

2/2/2022 4:40 pm

It's been a minute since our last profile but this one is extra special... it features one of our current students! In this month's profile, we meet fourth grader, Lila Brehm, and former Tuscan parent, Tina Kelley. We learn about their friendship and what a successful mentorship can lead to. Read on here.

SOMA Spring Recreation Baseball

1/30/2022 5:01 pm

Have a budding young back catcher? Or an aspiring shortstop? Registration is now open for South-Orange Maplewood Spring Recreation Baseball. The program welcomes all children ages 5 through 15 (as of April 30, 2022), living in South Orange and Maplewood. No prior experience is needed! Visit the South Orange Recreation website to register your player online, now through January 31 here.

Claire Sinclair, Tuscan's Own Published Author!

1/23/2022 3:29 pm

Volunteers Needed!

1/16/2022 6:50 pm

With the frigid temps, let's think ahead to warmer days and Tuscan events to look forward to in the Spring like the Tuscan Walk-A-Thon and the Tuscan Fair! 

The Tuscan Walk-A-Thon is still in very early planning stages for a LOT more details to come. 

And yes, the Tuscan Fair is baaaaackkkkk! There are probably many of you who have never experienced this awesome event (it's been paused due to the pandemic) but it. is. EPIC. Think old school outdoor fair with sand art, games, a ride or two and the chance for kids to win tickets and trade them in for prizes. 

We NEED volunteers to make these events happen! If you have any questions or are interested in volunteering, please get in touch TuscanPTAPres@gmail.com. 

Tuscan Show Registration is OPEN!

1/10/2022 9:17 am

Tuscan Show 2022: Jersey Strong

A celebration of the arts and culture of our great Garden State!

Registration is open TODAY Monday January 10 and closes Friday January 15.

Sign Up here! 

A few important notes: 

• Please review the rehearsal dates, eligible grades and skit choices with your child.
• At registration, each child may select a 1st and 2nd choice (please select both; skits are NOT first come first serve, lotteries are expected to be held for ALL skits).  
• Art crew (grades 3-5) and technical/backstage crew (grades 4-5) is also an available choice.
• The Tuscan Show is open to all Tuscan students in grades 1-5.  
• Questions? Email tuscanshow@gmail.com
• Still not sure? Check out Mrs. Donatelli’s class’ persuasive essay!

Welcome Back(ish)!

1/2/2022 8:54 pm

Hoping everyone had a great break and that you’re feeling refreshed and ready to take on the second half of the school year. If Omicron stayed out of your household, may it never find its way in. If it did, at least it’s over! Sending healthy thoughts across the Tuscan population for the start of 2022!

Going virtual

REMINDER: NO SCHOOL ON MONDAY January 3rd. And then we're virtual this week due to the rapid spread of COVID. Learning will be conducted through CANVAS, but find more information here about what to expect. During this week, grab-and-go lunches will be available for pick-up at Columbia High School (CHS), Seth Boyden Elementary School and South Orange Middle School for any District student from 10:30 am to 1:30pm. 

Get tested

While at-home tests have recently been hard to come by, SOMSD is offering access to testing on January 4, 6 and 7 at the BOE building on 525 Academy Street in Maplewood. Find out more here. 

A few reminders heading into the Holiday Break

12/21/2021 2:04 pm

Well, that’s it. So long 2021. What a year we’ve all had. We’ve navigated through difficult times and celebrated the positive ones. And so, from the PTA, we wish you all a restful, healthy winter break full of laughter, love, and looong sleeps.

But before we go, a few reminders: 

LOST & FOUND

A hanging rack and box will be outside by the front entrance of the school in the mornings and afternoons this week for you or your child(ren) to come and identify lost items. 

WEDNESDAY 12/22 IS SPIRIT DAY!

Wear your favorite Tuscan gear! And don't forget the new online store is now updated with the new merch, so check it out! The PTA has given Ms. Buggy spirit wear in various sizes to provide to the children she works with so everyone can participate. We’d like to give a BIG thank you to Spirit Wear Queens, Erica Galea and Laura Carney for ALL their hard work.

THURSDAY 12/23 IS PAJAMA DAY... AND A 4 HR DAY

Your child(ren) can roll out of bed and head on over to school. Just don't forget to pack a big snack because there's no lunch, dismissal at 12:45pm

STAY SAFE & HEALTHY TIGERS, WE'LL SEE YOU IN 2022!

There's still time to donate PJs!

12/17/2021 7:09 am

Thanks to all the families that have donated pajamas already! FARC (Family Assistance Resource Center  for children is picking up the donations on Tuesday 12/22 so there's still a few more days to drop off pjs either at school or with our amazing PTA President @ 81 Tuscan Road.

We'll also be celebrating with Pajama Day on Thursday, 12/23 so your kid(s) can simply roll out of bed and head on over to school, no better way to head into the Holiday Break. 

5th Grade Sweatshirt - Deadline to order 12/15

12/14/2021 9:42 pm

5th Grade Parents/Guardians: The deadline to order your 5th grade sweatshirt is TODAY, DECEMBER 15th! 

Sweatshirts are $32 each. For an extra $7 you can customize yours with a name on the sleeve!

December 8th PTA Meeting minutes and Volunteers Needed!

12/13/2021 6:16 pm

Here are the minutes from the last PTA meeting via Zoom on Wednesday, December 8th.

The next meeting will be Wednesday, January 12th at 7:30 pm via Zoom. Everyone is welcome and your attendance is appreciated.

We also need more volunteers - here are some of the opportunities to lead: 

• TUSCAN SHOW SKIT DIRECTORS! Please, for the love of…school tradition, cute kids and the arts, please sign up! Please please reach out to tuscanshow@gmail.com with any questions or hesitations, we are here to support and help you if you are on the fence.
• The Tuscan Fair will be Saturday, April 30th. An outdoor old school (pun intended) carnival with games, music, food and a ride or two, this is a Tuscan favorite. Holly Keith and Regina Hanley, the fabulous planners, are both graduating this year, so we’d love to have some parents with younger kids to shadow and learn how to run this event in the future. Interested? Email TuscanPTAPres@gmail.com to volunteer. 
• We’re planning a Walk-a-Thon in the Spring to raise funds to continue doing all the great things the PTA does and we need help! This is a low-key event to plan, we have all the notes from other schools in SOMSD that already do a walk-a-thon. Interested? Email TuscanPTAPres@gmail.com to volunteer.